Launching lite: ABC needs more to go 24

Deakin University's Senior Lecturer in Journalism Colleen Murrel has questioned whether the ABC has the resources to sustain its new 24 hour news channel scheduled to start broadcasting across the country tonight at 7:30pm (AEST).

Speaking on ABC Broken Hill's Outback Outlook program on Thursday Murrel expressed concerns over the ABC's ability to produce the amount of content required to provide a 24-hour news service.

Having worked most of her career in television and international news gathering, including working for 24 hour news operations for the BBC, Murrel is acutely aware of the difficulties associated with a 24 hour news coverage.

"My beef I suppose with this news service is I'm worried about two things really, resources and news gathering and also the programming," Murrel said.

"I don't believe that this programming has enough new stuff in it essentially.

"It's always a difficult proposition, 24 hour news coverage is always tough, you are going to be uncovered in places and I think the ABC is going to be uncovered in a lot of places."

Murrel has also questioned the ABC's decision to call the channel a 24 hour news service amidst speculation that the national broadcaster plans to switch to BBC World during the early hours of the morning.